S13 E7 - Cultivating Silence and Solitude
About This Episode
In this episode, we discuss the importance of cultivating silence and solitude in a world full of distractions. Our Lord speaks to us in the still small voice of our hearts and we talk about how the goal of silence is ultimately communion with God. We also chat about the difference between solitude versus isolation, reasons why we may be afraid of silence, and provide practical ways to cultivate silence in our daily lives. Jesus is the rest our souls yearn for and it is in the quiet where we meet Him most deeply.
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Show Notes
One Thing We Love This Week:
Sister Miriam’s one thing - The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived by Dr. Peter Kreeft
Michelle’s one thing - Poco a Poco Podcast
Heather’s one thing - International Justice Mission - IJM’s mission is to protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts.
Announcement:
We are so excited to announce our Advent book study will be:
The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander
You can find it on Amazon, Ave Maria Press, and Kindle (for just $1.99!). Your local Catholic bookstore may also carry the book!
Click here to subscribe to the study on our website and be the first to receive updates!
Discussion Questions:
What is real solitude?
What scares you most about silence?
Who in your life practices silence excellently? What can you learn from her/him?
What needs do you need to meet before you can enter into silence (childcare, rest, food, movement)?
Journal Questions:
What are the sources of interior and exterior noise in my life?
What forms of silence is God inviting me to?
Have I ever been wounded by silence? Have I ever been healed by silence?
Do I approach silence with fear or trust?
Quote to Ponder
“Silence will heal the wounds inflicted by the endless words that swarm around us, exhaust us, tire us beyond all tiredness. We need silence in our noisy, work–filled life, as a child needs its mother’s milk. We need to be alone with God. We need to have a desert, be it only a corner of some apartment, some house, where we can go and rest with God. We need to follow him to some hill, to some garden where he himself also went to pray when he was tired and weary and distressed. We need silence in order to be able to listen to our brothers, to listen with the heart. We need silence to open our souls to our brothers, making an inn for the thousands who may be living in palatial homes but have no place to lay their burdens of loneliness. We need that silence to be able to speak a few words charged with our love, charged with Christ.”
“Through silence, we return to our heavenly origin, where there is nothing but calm, peace, repose, silent contemplation, and adoration of the radiant face of God.”
“Without solitude, it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life.... We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and listen to him.”
Scripture for Lectio Divina
“He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”
This episode is sponsored by:
Saintly Heart and Brother Francis
Saintly Heart is a family-owned Catholic Toy company in Phoenix, Arizona creating faith-based, educational toys carefully designed by Speech Pathologist Maggie Jetty.
Brother Francis is an animated program created to teach kids the basic principles of the Catholic faith. Along with 22 episodes, there are also books, games, prayer cards and more available to teach kids about their faith.
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